Through the Student Lens – Student Government Association President
Ajahni Jackson
Brooklyn, New York City
Major: biology
Minors: animal behavior and political science
What advice does the current SGA president give to underclassmen looking to engage more on campus? Hear from Ajahni in this month’s “Through the Student Lens.”
Please tell us a little about yourself:
Hi! My name is Ajahni Jackson, I’m a 4th-year biology major with minors in animal behavior and political science. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, and attended Wheaton through the Posse Foundation Leadership Scholarship. I strive to be an active member of my communities. I have a love for wildlife and wild places, an interest in politics and policy, and I’m passionate about the importance of experiential learning.
Outside of Wheaton, I pursue jobs and internships in the field of conservation science and work for Ever So Original Media—a freelance photo and video company I helped found with my friend Elias Stevens ’25. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family, and walking, as I love to explore.
What clubs/organizations are you involved in?
Since the fall of my first year, I’ve been involved with the Student Government Association and I now serve as its president.
During my sophomore year I co-founded the Wheaton College Film Collective—a club that fosters a community of creatives and filmmakers— with my friends Elias Stevens ’25 and Reka Moscareli ’25.
I worked with the Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning and a handful of amazing students to revive the Black Student Association, for which I now serve as co-president with Alvin Tulasi ’25.
I also serve as a Marshall Center intercultural peer mentor, an Admissions tour guide, a Posse leadership scholar, and a member of the Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society.
Why did you run for Student Government Association (SGA) and what do you hope to achieve while holding that title?
When we’re little we’re taught the golden rule of “leave every place better than the way you found it.” I take this concept with me everywhere I go, making sure that every community I enter is left better than the way I found it.
I got involved in SGA during my freshman year. I heard concerns about various aspects of student life and set out to change things. Over time, through conversations with faculty, staff, and members of the administration I became well-versed in the way things worked behind the scenes. As a result, I became a resource to many students looking for answers or help.
When the time came to run for student body president I knew what I wanted to do and my relationship with students and the administration gave me confidence to work toward collaborative solutions. I wanted to make a difference. As president, I hope to continue to serve not just as a resource but as an amplifier of student voices and a builder of bridges.
I hope to inspire others to help amplify the voices of their peers and to also empower community members to speak up for themselves and others. My goal is to guide Wheaton towards accepting the many intrinsic benefits that come with a small close-knit community and to begin to break down barriers to healthy communication that have been built by simple misunderstanding. In my perfect world, I am only the beginning of a long line of positive change-makers within this community.
As a senior, what advice would you give underclassmen who are looking to engage more on campus?
Don’t ever be afraid to try something new. Put yourself out there, go for the reach, and do something crazy that your younger self would never expect. I feel as though far too often the world loses out on so many amazing minds simply as a result of fear and hesitation.
The beauty of going to a small liberal arts school is that everything here is built to be sampled. The nature of a liberal arts education is to try as many things as possible because you never know what you might end up liking. It’s a scary process, for sure, but there are always people around to look out for you. Lean on faculty and staff, lean on upperclassmen, lean on the support systems that you have created for yourself, always, but try not to neglect the ones that have been created for you. You have a lot more people in your corner than you’d expect.
How has being connected on campus as a student leader impacted your time at Wheaton?
Being a student leader certainly has its pros and cons and at times it can be really hard. Finding a balance is not easy and an important part of that process are the moments in which the weight tips too far on either side. An important skill that I’ve learned is to have the resiliency to keep shifting the weight until the balance is struck.
Overall, being a student leader has afforded me a huge number of useful skills that will aid me in the professional world. Finding that balance in college can be stressful but I’m a firm believer that it truly is the safest time to fail which makes it the best time to learn. Translating skills as a club leader to life outside of Wheaton has felt incredibly rewarding, especially because not many expect these skills to transfer when they first decide to get involved.
Is there anyone at Wheaton who has influenced you throughout your time here?
Over the course of my time here there have been no shortage of moments in which I’ve felt overwhelmed and unmotivated. In moments like that, members of the staff have sometimes unknowingly picked me up and put me back on my feet. Conversations in the residence halls with cleaning staff have taught me the importance of taking pride in your work even if there’s little credit to be received once it’s done.
Meetings with Raquel Ramos in the Marshall Center and Leonard Breton in the Center for Social Justice and Community Impact have shown me the benefits of level-headed leadership and mentorship, taught me the significance of developing a healthy work/life balance and reminded me of the importance of teamwork and the strength behind my identities.
Leaders of SAIL [Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership] have helped to develop me as a leader by giving me watchful guidance while teaching me to take ownership of my mistakes. Dining staff like Chef Shawn Jeanton have taught me the beauty of simple conversation and the benefits of authenticity and relationship-building.
Relationships with Campus Safety officers like Chief Roy Mulcahy have shown me the power of understanding and the power behind the ability to place yourself in other people’s shoes. Working with admissions officers has allowed me to hone my verbal communication skills to help me share my story in a way that is fun and engaging.
The list of people from various departments and communities on this campus that have inspired me goes on for miles and I’m incredibly grateful for them all. From this, I have learned the value of appreciating and noticing those around you because oftentimes the ones making the world turn spend their careers hidden in plain sight.
Do you have any final thoughts to share?
I hope that those who read this are reminded of their importance to this community and in this world. No one is insignificant and everyone can make a difference. As we continue to make our way through confusing and overwhelming times I want to remind young people, especially, that we have a powerful voice—one that folks often need to hear. What we say matters a great deal but how we say it is often the most important and the most overlooked.